| Author | Message | ||
     Captain_lou |
Looking to purchase a new bike for a trip to Alaska. How does the Buell XT compare to the BMW GS? | ||
| Jaimec |
You'll need an auxiliary fuel tank if you go with the Ulysses. Gas stations can be few and far between. | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Do a search for the Alcan 5000 on the badweb. There has been quite a bit of discussion on aftermarket parts, spare parts and so on. As far as the X vs. the XT. I would take the X with a bunch of toys on it. I just wasn't overly impressed with the XT. The only benefit I saw out of the XT was the lower seat height, but I am 5'9" and I manage on the X. | ||
| Captain_lou |
I was concerned with reliability and handling as compared to the BMW GS | ||
| Blake |
Better handling. Very reliable. Check out the threads where the Aussies took a Uly through S. Asia and also the one where the Argentinians rode across two continents, wasn't it all the way from NY to Wisconsin and then down to Argentina? Amazing. The FBRAT tour is another epic ride across the country on a Uly. I know I'm missing others too. Check the Tale Section. | ||
| Werewulf |
but then i read an article about a disabled man who rode a sportster around the world... so it might be the person as much as the bike.. | ||
| Jaimec |
Captain Lou: If it's one of the NEW R1200GS models, I'd say it's a wash. If you're talking about an R1150GS or earlier I'd probably count on the GS to be more reliable, but it wouldn't handle nearly as well. Most reviews I've read give the nod to the Beemer when you get off-road because of the more dirt-oriented wheel sizes, but if you drop that baby you'd better have your "bike lifting" technique down pat! To me, the biggest "gotcha" with the Ulysses, though, is the range you can travel on a tank of gas. | ||
| Captain_lou |
I was planning on buying a used 1200 GS when I took a look at the XT. I liked the looks and feel. I can get a new XT for about the same price as a used GS. I have been riding continuously for 45 years (61 years old). Own two Harleys now, one I bought new in 1971. The trip to Alaska will probably be a once in a life time trip for me and I want it to be fun with as much sight seeing as possible. I have been monitoring the conversations at "Alcan 5000" and it sounds like the Buell is as capable of handling riding conditions in Alaska as any of the metric bikes. I read on the forum that one of the minuses for the Buell is the 4.4 gal. fuel cap. It was suggested that I carry extra fuel containers, something I would like to avoid for obvious safety reasons. | ||
| Jaimec |
The rear bearing on the new GS' are questionable, based on the results of the last Iron Butt Rally. The older design on the 1150GS appears to be more rugged. That's the only issue I'd have with the 1200GS. Overall, the 1200GS is lighter, better handling, and more powerful... but reliability when you're in the middle of nowhere trumps all that in my book. When the Ulysses first came out, I had found an ad for a company that made an auxiliary fuel tank that fit in the Ulysses top case. It was fitted with it's own pump and could be used to refill the main fuel supply when you got low. Of course, the downside is you lose the storage capacity of the trunk, but if you're traveling solo that's no big deal as you have the entire passenger seat on which to lash a big duffel bag full of "stuff", and it would act as a back rest for you. I'm trying to find that link, but I'm not having much luck. Maybe someone else remembers it? (Message edited by jaimec on August 08, 2008) | ||
| Captain_lou |
MOTORCYCLE CONSUMER NEWS JUST DID A COMPARISON OF THE BMWGS, 990KTM AND BUELL X. THEY HAD NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT THE BUELL. WHAT GIVES? THEY PLACED THE BUELL IN THIRD PLACE IN EVERY TEST. |
